BoV Premier League highlights

Floriana are the sole leaders of the BOV Premier League after a string of shocking results over the past nine days.

After a come-from-behind victory over Hibernians in midweek, Sliema Wanderers were strongly tipped to stay in the leading pack but they suffered a humiliating defeat to Mqabba on Sunday.

Promoted as Division One runners-up at the end of last season, Mqabba collected their first points in the Premier League thanks to a fine display of commitment and pungent counter-attacking football.

Striker Marcelo Pereira punished Sliema's complacency and defensive weaknesses with a hat-trick, his last goal coming in the dying minutes of the game after the Wanderers had fought back from a two-goal deficit with second-half strikes from Etienne Barbara and Alex Muscat.

Sliema, who take on Valletta tomorrow, now trail leaders Floriana by three points after the Greens bounced back from their 3-2 upset to Marsaxlokk with a 4-0 thrashing of Pietà Hotspurs.

Four goals from four different scorers, namely Darko Krsteski, Adrian Mifsud, Yala Bolasie and Manolito Micallef, gave Danilo Doncic's team their fourth win in six matches.

Birkirkara, whose unbeaten start to the season was surprisingly halted by Pietà in midweek, failed to join Floriana on the 13-point mark after a 1-1 draw with a plucky Msida side.

The two goals came in a frenetic one-minute spell during the first half as Priso Doding's opener for Msida, from a penalty, was wiped out by Marcelin Tamboulas.

Champions Marsaxlokk and Hibernians also shared the spoils after their first-round clash ended one-all on Sunday.

Needing a win to make up for the 2-1 loss to Sliema, Hibs went ahead through a Terence Scerri goal but William Camenzuli fired the ball home from a free-kick to save a point for Marsaxlokk.

The Hibs clan left the stadium seething with anger and frustration after they were denied what looked like a clear penalty when Marsaxlokk midfielder Trevor Templeman barged into Andrew Cohen.

Robert Gatt, the Hibs coach, was ordered off the bench for protests.

Premier League statistics...

Birkirkara: Hartvig 3, M. Galea 3; Tabone, Tamboulas.

Floriana: C. Caruana 3, Mifsud 3; Darmanin 2, Micallef 2; M. Caruana, M. Brincat, Krsteski, Bolasie, Sevasta. Red cards: M. Brincat (vs Mqabba); Krsteski (vs Sliema).

Hamrun Spartans: Spiteri 3; Briffa, Sultana, Mangion.
Red card: Ryan Fenech (vs Pietà).

Hibs: Scerri 3; Cohen, Doffo, Alcorse.
Red card: Failla (vs Floriana).

Marsaxlokk: Frendo 2, Gomes 2; Sammut, Pullicino, Da Silva, Licari, Camenzuli, Templeman.

Mqabba: Pereira 4; Gatt Baldacchino, Silva pen.
Red card: Pereira (vs Birkirkara).

Msida: Baldacchino, Ogbonna, Magri, Doding pen.
Red card: A. Farrugia (vs Birkirkara).

Pietà: Herrera 3; Galabov, Kondev pen., Goodlip, Refalo.
Red card: Aquilina (vs Valletta).
Missed penalty: Kondev (vs Msida).

Sliema: Barbara 5 (1 penalty); Madzar 2; Milovanovic, Briffa, Muscat, Bajada, Woods.

Valletta: Zammit 4; Monesterolo 2; Agius, Giglio pen., Mattocks, Bondin.
Red cards: Zammit (vs Pietà); Mattocks (vs Mqabba).
Missed penalties: Monesterolo 2 (vs Pietà).

Next fixtures - National Stadium

Tomorrow
Valletta vs Sliema 7.30 p.m.

Friday
Marsaxlokk vs Mqabba. 6 p.m.
Hamrun vs Birkirkara 8 p.m.

Saturday
Msida vs Floriana 4 p.m.
Pietà vs Hibernians 6 p.m.